How are you Marketing Yourself?

By Dee Matheson

How many times did your mom say, “Don’t brag” or “You’re too big for your boots”? When growing up in the 60’s and 70’s you had to be more humble about what you could do and what your abilities were. But that has all changed now in this new world of social media and running a business and being an entrepreneur.

Not so long ago when I was working for an international company I was asked about branding and how I would sell a brand. Many brands sell themselves due to media, advertising, personal knowledge of a brand and past experience with that brand but I will admit the hardest brand to sell or market is yourself.  Before anyone will even look at you, branding yourself is key and here are some views that I have found interesting and want to share.

Nowadays it is essential for the advancement of your business or even your career to brand yourself. Unfortunately some people are using the social media platform irresponsibly thinking it will immediately increase their market value for their personal brand rather than recognising that the process of developing their personal brand is a much bigger responsibility, a never ending journey that extends well beyond social media.  Some points to consider are:

·         Using social media is a full time commitment, are you prepared to commit?

·         What are your intentions by using this platform?

·         Are you capable of continuously delivering to the communities you are serving?

·         Does your personal brand represent the value you are able to consistently deliver?

·         Are you and your brand a great role model/mentor/ voice that others can depend upon

·         Has your mind set developed to the level of accountability you must assume when deciding to define, live and manage your personal brand?

·         Are you delivering to a standard of expectation that you have set for both yourself and those you serve?

Many people think that marketing yourself is just self-promotion but if you consider viewing it rather as a trademark, an asset that you must protect while continuously moulding and shaping it, you will be one step ahead of your competitor. Remember that your personal brand is an asset that must be managed with the intention of helping others benefit from having an association with you.

If you are battling to find your personal brand, think about what the total experience is of someone having a relationship with who you are and what you represent as an individual. Think about what it means to you and ask close friends what their total experience of having a relationship with you is like. Write down your top 5 points you would expect others to experience and have your friends do the same. If the answers are the same or very similar, that’s great but if they are not, then you’ve got some work to do.

If you attend meetings, conferences or networking events, be mindful of what others are experiencing about you and what you want others to experience about you. Each of these engagements is similar to a job interview where decisions are made within a few seconds of meeting you except in these cases you are being evaluated by your peers. Those who know how to live and manage their personal brand will earn their respect in any situation.

Live your brand in all aspects of your life, social and business. You never know whom you may meet. I make sure that when I go out and meet a new client or just a social event that the basics are covered:

·         Look like the CEO of your company, dress appropriately for the occasion,

·         Make sure that all your branding is visible, e.g. car magnets are attached to your car correctly,

·         Arrive on time for your appointments and have all your marketing material, business cards etc. at hand.

There are many more that you are able to think of but the one that gets me the most when meeting someone new is that people don’t smile. That is the cheapest and least used marketing tool available to you. Remember to use it!!

Should your colleagues or business associates not know what your personal brand is, the fault is yours and not theirs. Having a personal brand is a leadership requirement and enables you to be a better leader, more authentic and create a greater overall impact in the community that you serve.

As Glen Llopis who inspired this topic said, “Personal branding is no longer an option; it’s a powerful leadership enabler”.

If you enjoyed this topic, I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below or contact me on dmatheson@worldonline.co.za